CES 2008

Tom Merritt shows off Bug Labs' modular gadget on the CNET Stage.

In a year when several of our colleagues felt underwhelmed by the products on display at CES, the emerging technologies category provided some much-needed excitement for the year to come.

Our Best of CES winner, the Bug Labs platform, generated buzz among both CNET editors and readers with its mix of open-source hardware and software, plus an innovative pricing scheme that encourages early adoption. Though we have no doubt the product will at first appeal to tinkerers and hobbyists, we're intrigued by the prospect of a future filled with modular gadgetry.

Other technologies to catch our attention seemed to come straight out of The Jetsons: the Starry Night Sleep Technology Bed promised to cater to our every desire for leisure and entertainment; the Creative InPerson moved us one step closer to a portable videophone; and Pioneer's "Extreme Contrast Concept" showed us a future filled with currently unfathomable picture quality, thanks to its ability to produce absolute blacks.

This year's show also brought a number of consumer applications based on technologies originally developed for the government or military. The SpeechGear Compadre software suite provides instant translation of text, speech, and images. BigStage face-mapping technology has been introduced as a way to automatically create realistic avatars. And 3DV's ZCam uses next-generation 3D imaging to control video games and other interfaces through body movement and gestures.

For a glimpse of more products set to drive consumer electronics in 2008 and beyond, check out all our posts on emerging technologies.

(Credit: SpeechGear)

SpeechGear's Compadre suite of translation software brings us one step closer the sci-fi ideal of a universal translator. The full suite of five programs gives you the ability to instantly translate anything you see, hear, or read into a ton of languages, including Spanish, German, Dutch, Iraqi, Chinese, Japanese, and more.

The most exciting portion of the software is Interact, which lets you have a near-real-time conversation with a speaker of a foreign language. You and your conversant simply speak into a microphone that's connected to your computer; the program uses voice recognition, machine translation, and speech synthesis technology to instantly translate your words both onscreen and out loud. CNET TV has video of the product in action.

Other elements of the suite include Interpreter, a PDA-based phrasebook with similar voice recognition and speech synthesis features; Document, which provides straight text-to-text translation of Microsoft Office files, with the advantage of preserving your original formatting; and the soon-to-be-released Camera, which translates anything you see, such as a road sign or menu. The whole suite runs on an engine called Composer, which lets you add your own terms and phrases to the word database, so for example CNET would never be translated as "see net."

As you might have guessed, the SpeechGear Compadre suite was originally designed for the military and is now being marketed to companies that do business internationally. And it's priced accordingly: Interact costs $995, Document costs $595, and Interpreter costs $75, while Camera's pricing has yet to be announced. But I have no doubt the investment will make sense to companies with global aspirations, and I look forward to the day when the technology trickles down to international tourists like me.

Often, "emerging tech" describes something esoteric, a component or product so far on the cutting edge that its application to everyday life isn't immediately apparent. While we certainly expect to see such technologies on display at this year's CES, the broader emerging category contains developments that are closer to home and easier to grasp--literally.

Best of CES 2007: Powercast

(Credit: CNET Networks)

On a slightly smaller scale, increasing consumer comfort with high-tech products has paved the way for ever-more-connected household tools, from Internet-capable refrigerators to robots that help with cleaning and other chores. We expect to see plenty of both at this year's show.

Hands-on with tech
The hacker's DIY philosophy has lots of room to play at CES, where some of the newest products require assembly--in a good way. Our favorite: Bug Labs' BUG, a modular hardware-and-software platform that starts with a small, programmable Linux computer and lets you add self-contained modules--for example, a Webcam--to create the gadget of your dreams. We're also hoping to see new products from Robotis, maker of the build-it-yourself Bioloid robot kit.

Even nongeeks will appreciate the opportunity to rethink human-computer interaction with the LtWv Wrist Remote, a bracelet that detects finger movements and gestures, effectively replacing a mouse or remote.

Wireless still going strong
This time last year, emerging technology was all about life without wires. That concept continues to gain momentum as we see companies like eCoupled, WildCharge, and Powercast making inroads for power that charges your mobile devices without plugging them in. Plenty of other wireless technologies, from streaming high-definition video to USB monitors and electronic payment systems, will also be on display.

Where are they now?
After three years of keeping its technology under close guard, Powercast came to CES 2007 to get consumer and manufacturer attention. The company succeeded so well that it earned our Best of CES Award with its wireless power solution, which transmits a radio frequency whose energy can be "harvested" by small devices like cell phones. The technology poses near-limitless potential, but because Powercast relies on other companies to build its technology into products, consumer applications have been slow in coming. An early partnership with Philips produced LED light sticks and a wireless Christmas tree; products from other manufacturers should hit the market in 2008.